How do you know when it’s time to repair or replace your furnace? Repairs are sure to be cheaper than a replacement, but what about operational costs? Here’s an in-depth look at the points to consider if you’re deciding whether to repair or replace your furnace.
- Age: This is the number one factor to consider. If your furnace is more than 15 years old and also suffers from one or more of the following conditions, it’s time to start shopping.
- Frequent repairs: You could continue to repair your aging furnace and pay high energy bills for another few years, or you could stop throwing good money at bad and replace the old system with an energy-saving high-efficiency furnace.
- High energy bills: Rising energy costs are one factor in the equation, but poor equipment performance is another to consider. If you compare energy bills from the past few winters and find that your furnace is consuming much more fuel than it used to, it’s probably time to replace it.
- Comfort problems: Factors such as inadequate insulation and duct problems could be to blame, but if you find that it’s difficult to keep some rooms warm when it was never a problem in the past, the furnace could be deteriorating in performance.
- Poor indoor air quality: Older furnaces and dirty or leaky ducts may cause excess dust to enter your home. While duct cleaning and sealing may be the first step, poor indoor air quality might be improved with a furnace replacement.
- Equipment runs noisily: Your furnace could be developing a problem if it begins making strange noises during operation. Have your furnace inspected by a professional before you make a final decision, but be prepared to replace your furnace if it begins making noises that it never did before.
Remember, while the initial investment in a new furnace is more costly than a repair, the energy savings can help the new furnace pay for itself over time. For more tips on how to tell whether to repair or replace your furnace, please contact Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning in the Twin Cities metro area today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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